Iran Shipping Update – July 27, 2026

The United States reinstated its naval blockade of Iranian ports on July 14, marking a likely end to the brief détente established under the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding signed June 17. The move follows Iran's attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz starting July 7, which reignited tensions across the Persian Gulf, ultimately collapsing the agreement's key confidence-building measures. The United States has since conducted a series of strikes against Iranian military and IRGC maritime assets.

To read UANI's June 2026 Tanker Tracker, click here.

U.S. Blockade 

In addition to enforcing the blockade on Iranian ports, all Iranian vessels and vessels suspected of carrying contraband, are subject to belligerent right to visit and search. These vessels, regardless of location, are subject to visit, board, search, and seizure. Contraband items are subject to capture at any place beyond neutral territory, if their destination is the territory belonging to, or occupied by, Iran. Contraband is defined as goods that are destined for an enemy and that may be susceptible to use in armed conflict.

As of July 27, U.S. forces have redirected 17 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn't comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.  

U.S. forces completed a verification boarding of the falsely flagged CHARMINAR (IMO 9318022) in the Arabian Sea, and the tanker is now continuing its voyage. Separately, CENTCOM disabled the falsely flagged DISHA (IMO 8818219), also known as LAVINE and MEDA, in the Gulf of Oman on July 24 after the crew repeatedly attempted to violate the blockade and ignored warnings; the vessel is no longer transiting to Iran.

Houthi Blockade

On July 20, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabian ports. On July 22, the Houthis claimed they attacked two tankers laden with Saudi crude oil in the Red Sea. JMIC also reported that a tanker was hit by projectiles and was fighting a fire near the mouth of the Bab el Mandeb strait approximately 70nm off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Houthi threats and attacks against Saudi-linked shipping are already prompting some, but not all, tankers to reroute in the Red Sea.

Status of the Strait of Hormuz

Since the start of the Iran War, the International Maritime organization (IMO) has reported 62 maritime incidents involving commercial vessels have been reported across the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.

Prior to the outbreak of the Iran War, about 138 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Throughout the conflict, marine traffic data showed large clusters of loitering vessels on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, with many ships refraining from transiting due to safety concerns. Since the signing of the MoU, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has reported an increase in open transits through the Strait of Hormuz. On June 24, JMIC recorded 54 transits, the highest daily total since the outbreak of the conflict. As of July 25, JMIC has reported a total of 718 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the date of the signing of the MoU. 

Vessel transits of the Strait of Hormuz (Data Credit: JMIC)

Open transits of commercial vessels through the southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz declined following the IRGC strikes on commercial shipping starting July 7 but have not ceased entirely. Since the strikes, the traffic has been dominated by Iranian- and Chinese-linked vessels transiting via the northern corridor. 

Strait of Hormuz transits on July 27 at 12:00 UTC (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers Departing the Gulf of Oman

Since the announcement of the MoU on June 14, UANI has tracked 66 tankers departing the Gulf of Oman laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals. These exports represent approximately 80 million barrels of Iranian oil, generating an estimated revenue of over $6 billion for the IRGC, which continues to fund Iran’s missile and drone programs. These figures are estimates. The pricing and volumes associated with Chinese purchases of Iranian crude are not publicly disclosed, though such cargoes are widely assessed to be sold at a discount of around 10 to 12 dollars per barrel.

Tankers laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals are currently clustering in anchorages along the Iranian coastline due to the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports. UANI has not tracked any tanker laden with Iranian crude oil that has departed the Gulf of Oman and avoided enforcement actions by U.S. forces since July 12, before the blockade was reinstated. 

Iranian Oil-Laden Tankers

UANI has identified at least 45 tankers laden with Iranian oil — primarily crude, but also other petroleum products and LPG — currently operating along the Iranian coastline.   

Positions of tankers laden with Iranian oil on July 27 (Credit: UANI)

Since the reinstatement of the blockade, the number of tankers in the Kharg anchorage has once again increased. On July 25, at least 23 tankers were spotted in satellite imagery with at least 15 tankers laden with Iranian oil, including one moored at Kharg’s T-Jetty.

Laden and unladen tankers near Kharg Island on July 25 (Credit: ESA Copernicus)

Number of Iranian Loadings

Since the signing of the U.S.-Iran MoU on June 17, UANI has tracked at least 31 Iranian oil and petrochemical loadings, 12 of which originated from Kharg Island, Iran. 

Iran-flagged Tankers Globally

UANI has also monitored Iran-flagged tankers operating beyond the Persian Gulf. Since the signing of the MoU, 25 Iran-flagged tankers have reached the Singapore Strait bound for the EOPL anchorage off Johor, Malaysia. On July 25, HUMANITY (IMO 9180281) transited the Singapore Strait laden with Iranian crude and stopped broadcasting its location on AIS as it reached the EOPL anchorage.

Iran-flagged tanker transited the Singapore Strait on July 25 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

HUMANITY joined 18 other Iran-flagged tankers currently in the EOPL: DREAM II (IMO 9356593), DUNE (IMO 9569712), STARLA (IMO 9569621), HILDA I (IMO 9357389), DAN (9357729), HELM (IMO 9357391), HALTI (IMO 9212890), HAPPINESS I (IMO 9212905), STREAM (IMO 9569633), DIAMOND II (IMO 9218478), DINO 1 (IMO 9569671), HEDY (IMO 9212888), DORE (IMO 9357717), SILVIA I (IMO 9172052), DORENA (IMO 9569669), SNOW (IMO 9569619) HERO II (IMO 9362073) and SONIA I (IMO 9357365), which have all previously passed the Singapore Strait and have since stopped broadcasting their location on AIS. All these Iranian tankers are expected to conduct STS transfers in the EOPL. Six of these STS transfers have been observed in satellite imagery.

HERBY (IMO 9362059), SEVIN (IMO 9357353), FELICITY (IMO 9183934), HENNA (IMO 9212929), AMBER (IMO 9357406) and DIONA (IMO 9569695) have all departed from the EOPL in ballast after completing STS transfers. These departing Iran-flagged tankers are now most likely heading to anchorages across the Indo-Pacific rather than back to Iranian ports because of the U.S. blockade. DIONA was last observed loitering offshore Duqm, Oman in satellite imagery, while AMBER, HENNA and FELICITY are anchored off Galle, Sri Lanka. STARLA also left the EOPL empty, conducted another STS in the Malacca Strait, and has since returned to the EOPL laden with Iranian crude, bringing the total to seven Iran-flagged tankers that have departed the EOPL empty since the signing of the MoU, which has since collapsed.

Iran-flagged HUGE (IMO 9357183) has also departed the EOPL anchorage. This tanker has been loitering unladen in the EOPL anchorage for over two weeks after conducting an STS transfer of Iranian crude south of Hong Kong in the South China Sea on July 9. 

Iran-flagged tanker transited the Singapore Strait empty on July 27 (Credit: EOS Landsat & Marine Traffic)
 

On July 27, at least 56 tankers listed on UANI's Ghost Armada were anchored or loitering near the EOPL area with their AIS signals active, demonstrating that ghost fleet tankers continue to operate with impunity across Southeast Asia's sea lanes. 

Iran-Flagged Cargo Ships Globally

Despite ongoing pressure of U.S. OFAC sanctions, and new constraints of the U.S. Blockade on Iranian ports, approximately 50 Iranian flagged cargo ships continue to operate openly across sea lanes, ports, and anchorages throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the Red Sea, the eastern Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea.

Iran-flagged cargo vessels across the region on July 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

No Iranian-flagged cargo ships have openly crossed the U.S. blockade line since it was formally declared on June 14. 

In the Mediterranean Sea, the Iran-flagged general cargo ship ALVAN (IMO 9165798) remains anchored outside Benghazi, Libya, while AYSAN (IMO 9165803) continued to anchor off Misrata. Libya is under certain UN sanctions, and an arms embargo, in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2819 (2026).

The general cargo ship NYRA 2 (IMO 9241487) is anchored at Port Said, Egypt.  It previously departed a Russian port on the Black Sea without broadcasting on AIS and then passed the Bosphorus on July 25.

Iranian flagged cargo ship NYRA 2 in the Bosphorus on July 25 (Credit @YorukIsik / X)

Iranian flagged cargo ship at Port Said on July 25 (Credit Marine Traffic)

Both bulk carrier ARTMAN (IMO 9405930) and container ship ARTAM (IMO 9284154) are anchored outside the Gulf of Kutch, while bulk carrier BATIS (IMO 9465760) is sailing toward the Karachi OPL anchorage, although it is listing Bandar Abbas as its destination.

The container ships VELON 1 (IMO 9122473) and ENZO 2 (IMO 9236652) are both anchored outside Mumbai, after turning around in the Gulf of Oman, likely in response to the U.S. blockade and to avoid interdiction by U.S. naval forces. Both have gone dark on AIS for almost 48 hours, suggesting that they are avoiding attention from U.S. naval forces.

FLEXI 2 (IMO 9246322) approached the Gulf of Aden on its way to the Suez Canal, from Kandla, India. Meanwhile, the container ship VIRA 1 (IMO 9088524) continued crossing the Arabian Sea, en route to Port Klang, Malaysia, after previously visiting the Russian Baltic. 

The container ship ZYRA (IMO 9237084) passed Sri Lanka and approached the Laccadive Sea, returning to the Persian Gulf. On AIS, ZYRA lists its destination as Jebel Ali, UAE but ZYRA is most likely not heading there and will instead wait in the vicinity of Karachi due to the U.S. Blockade. 

The container ship SHAMIM (IMO 9270658) departed the area where it was anchored and loitering for 9 days off Penang, Malaysia. It is now sailing toward the Six-Degree Channel to possibly enter the Bay of Bengal.  

The container ships DAISY (IMO 9270684), SHIBA (IMO 9270646) and ARTABAZ (IMO 9283007) remained at the Port Klang anchorage.  

The container ships BASHT (IMO 9346536), ARTENOS (IMO 9283021) and ALOR 2 (IMO 9228538) and the general cargo ship PARNIA (IMO 9167265) remained anchored in the Malaysian EOPL anchorage area. 

Iran-flagged vessels in Port Klang and the EOPL on July 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

The bulk carrier BEHDOKHT (IMO 9405978) remained anchored near Laem Chabang port in Thailand. Meanwhile, the general cargo ship AREZOO (IMO 9165786) likely remained in port Surabaya, Indonesia, although it has not been detected on AIS for over 2 days.

The container ship HAMOUNA (IMO 9820271) pulled into Zhuhai container terminal today after loitering for several days at anchorage following its previous call at Shanghai. RAMA 3 (IMO 9303754) also arrived and anchored outside Zhuhai after a previous visit to Shanghai, while RADIN (IMO 9820257) arrived and anchored near Zhuhai after loitering south of the city in the South China Sea. RADIN had previously departed Bandar Abbas on July 8, prior to the reinstatement of the blockade.

Iran-flagged vessels at Zhuhai on July 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)

Five container ships are currently anchored at CJK anchorage off Shanghai, China: BARZIN (IMO 9820269), FLORA (IMO 9349576), ZARDIS (IMO 9349679), and ARZIN (IMO 9284142). Two other ships previously anchored here are now likely in port at Shanghai terminals, but due to Chinese regulations, their AIS signals are not visible. China implemented data security laws that significantly restricted the export of certain geographic and transport data. Many domestic AIS shore stations stopped providing their data to foreign commercial AIS aggregators. The bulk cargo ship GANJ (IMO 9305219) departed Shanghai today in ballast condition after delivering an unknown cargo, and is indicating its new destination as Bandar Abbas, Iran.

Three bulk cargo ships are currently at Dafeng, China, while one is in Lanshan Port, China, off the Yellow Sea.

The container ship BEHTA (IMO 9349590) departed the Russian port of Bronka near St. Petersburg and entered the Gulf of Finland in the Russian Baltic. Its destination is listed as Port Said, Egypt and BEHTA will likely transit the Dover Strait on July 30. 

Iran-flagged vessel in the Russian Baltic on July 27 (Credit: Marine Traffic)